Things move quickly in the audio world. While we thought the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless was the cream of the crop back in 2017, you can now get a lot more for less in the headphone realm. V-MODA has a lot of ground to make up if it wants to be a household name again. Are the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless the saving grace? Read on to find out.
Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
About this V-MODA Crossfade 3 review: We tested the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless over one week. The headphones ran firmware version 1.2, and the V-MODA Headphone Editor app ran version 3.1. The company provided the unit for this review.
The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless could be a good option for DJs. These headphones are durable enough to hold up in a club and boost low frequencies, which helps with hearing the bass drum while mixing. You can listen to music on your phone wirelessly when you aren’t DJing.
What’s it like to use the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless?
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The headband can easily withstand some bending.
As with all V-MODA headphones, the Crossfade 3 Wireless feel exceptionally well made. The metal headband seems solid and has a professional look that wouldn’t seem out of place in a studio or club. The headphones include a compact, rigid carrying case, a charging cable, and an auxiliary cable.
That said, there are some downsides to the design. First, at 315g, the headphones feel hefty on the head. Second, there is no dust or water resistance, as the headphones do not have an IP rating.
Another one of my gripes with the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless is the ear pads. While the leather-wrapped memory foam ear pads feel nice, they are too small to fit around average-sized ears. Combined with a significant amount of clamping force, I had many comfort issues. The headphones press tightly against my ears, which causes discomfort after only a few minutes, especially around my ear piercings.
How do you control the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless?
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The buttons are disguised near the top of the ear cup.
The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless has three buttons on the top of the right ear cup. These include volume up/down and a multifunction button to control music playback and answer calls. A sliding button on the bottom of the right ear cup controls power and pairing.
| Multifunction button | Sliding button | Vol + button | Vol - button | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Single press | Multifunction button Play/pause, answer call | Sliding button Power on / off | Vol + button Increase volume | Vol - button Decrease volume |
Press and hold | Multifunction button Voice assistant, decline call | Sliding button Enter pairing mode | Vol + button Reset headphones (hold Vol - button at same time) | Vol - button |
Double press | Multifunction button Next track | Sliding button | Vol + button | Vol - button |
Triple press | Multifunction button Previous track | Sliding button | Vol + button | Vol - button |
Should you use the V-MODA Headphone Editor app for the Crossfade Wireless 3?
You don’t need to use the V-MODA Headphone Editor app as it doesn’t offer many features. You should download it the first time you use the headphones to install the latest firmware updates. You also may want to select an EQ preset or customize the sound using the five-band equalizer. After that, you’ll never touch the app again as it doesn’t have much else to offer.
How do the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless connect?
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
USB-C (charging only) and 3.5mm connectors are found on the bottom of the ear cups.
The headphones use Bluetooth 5.1, which is outdated and does not support newer Bluetooth technology such as Auracast. On the positive side, the headphones support aptX HD, which provides high bit-rate streaming. There’s also standard SBC and AAC Bluetooth codec support, and you can use Bluetooth multipoint to pair two devices simultaneously. Using the included 3.5mm cable, you can listen over a wired connection, though there is no wired USB audio support.
Pairing the headphones is a simple process. Simply slide the button on the bottom of the right ear cup to the right and hold it there for a few seconds until the light blinks. You should now see the headphones appear in the Bluetooth settings on your device. You can repeat this process to pair to more devices.
How long does the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless battery last?
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The folding design and long battery life make it a decent travel companion.
In our battery test, the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless lasted 28 hours and 17 minutes on a single charge. This is average for wireless headphones and in line with V-MODA’s quoted 30 hours of battery life.
No, V-MODA does not promote fast charging capabilities with the Crossfade 3 Wireless. It takes about two hours to charge the headphones fully from empty.
How well do the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless block out noise?
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These headphones do not have active noise canceling (ANC), which is a noticeable absence in wireless headphones of this price. Since there is no ANC, the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless should not be your first choice if you plan on using your headphones in noisy environments such as on a train. The ear cups provide passive isolation as a physical barrier against high-frequency noise. Since the ear cups are small, the isolation will depend on the size of your ears and how well the headphones fit on them. You should not count on these headphones to block out a large amount of noise around you.
How do the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless sound?
The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless headphones sound okay. Most people should find the sound quality to be good.
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)
The chart below shows how the sound of the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.
These are very high scores across the board.
An overall score of 4.8 is very high. A simulated panel of listeners rates the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless well in all three categories of Timbre, Distortion, and Immersiveness. Based on this algorithm, most people will likely enjoy the sound of these headphones.
Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the earbuds reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.
See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.
Reviewer’s notes
Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about ithere.
Objective Measurements
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The chart above shows the default frequency response of the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless compared to our headphone response preference curve. Below 40Hz, there is a significant drop-off, which means a lack of deep sub-bass. From 40Hz all the way to 300Hz, the headphones boost bass much more than our preference. This puts a focus on basslines and kick drums. There is a scoop in the mid-range from 400-800Hz, which makes vocals, pianos, guitars, and many other instruments sound relatively subdued. There is also a dip in the highs from 5-10kHz, which impacts cymbals and upper harmonics.
You can use the in-app equalizer to fix some of these abnormalities in the frequency response, though only five equalizer bands means you’re limited in what you can fix.
Our measurements show that the headphones have the same frequency response with a wired connection as when they operate wirelessly.
Can you use the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless for phone calls?
With built-in microphones, you can use the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless to take phone calls on the go. The microphone sensitivity is a little low, but it’s okay for taking quick calls. As long as you are in a quiet environment, people should be able to understand what you are saying.
V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
9 votes
V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless microphone demo (Office conditions):
V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless microphone demo (Street conditions):
V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless microphone demo (Windy conditions):
V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless microphone demo (Reverberant space):
The microphone system does a poor job of rejecting background noise in an office or street environment; you can still hear plenty of noise. When it comes to wind, the microphones struggle, so people may be unable to hear you in a windy environment.
Should you buy the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless?
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
These headphones are all form and have limited function.
You should not buy the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless. No matter how you plan on using your headphones, you will find a better option. Most people will find these headphones uncomfortable and don’t have the features you should expect at this price, such as ANC. Many headphones out there cost a fraction of the price that exceeds the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless in almost every category.
V-Moda Crossfade 3 Wireless
Good build quality • App with equalizer
MSRP: $299.99
Classic V-Moda design but lacking in features.
The V-Moda Crossfade 3 Wireless retains the classic V-Moda design and build quality. If you like the design and want wireless headphones, these headphones might be for you.
What should you get instead of the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless?
Christian Thomas / SoundGuys
The Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus is a very decent bang-for-buck option.
You can get really good headphones for less than the price of the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless. For starters, take a look at the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus, $217.95 at Amazon. These headphones have more features, such as ANC and touch controls, and an out-of-the-box sound that most people will enjoy.
For even less outlay, you can look at the various options from Anker. An excellent choice for most people is the Anker Soundcore Space One, $99.99 at Amazon. You get more advanced features, including ANC, Bluetooth 5.3, and wear detection, for a fraction of the price of the V-MODA headphones.
To see more options, check out our complete breakdowns of the best headphones, the best headphones under $200, and the best headphones under $100.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can check out the V-MODA M-200ANC which features active noise canceling. While the headphones initially cost $500, you can now find them for much less, which might make them worth buying.
While V-MODA used to offer custom engraved plates for their headphones, they no longer offer this service. You can still purchase different colored shield plates or find some custom third-party sellers.
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